Posted on 06/22/2003 4:08:47 PM PDT by TLBSHOW
Yardbirds reunite for album and tour
Old bands reunite all the time. But when was the last time a group that hasn't released an album in 35 years put out something new?
That just happened with the Yardbirds, who have issued Birdland, the first release under that band's storied name since 1968's Little Games.
Tuesday night, the band played its first New York show since the year Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. On Saturday, the band will play at the Agora in Cleveland.
Fans may well argue whether the guys touring and recording under the Yardbirds banner deserve the name. Only drummer Jim McCarty and rhythm guitarist Chris Dreja survive from the core '60s lineup.
There's no Eric Clapton, no Jimmy Page and just one cameo from Jeff Beck on the group's ``comeback'' CD.
``Obviously, there's a certain curiosity about a project like this,'' Dreja said. ``Everyone questions the band -- except those who've heard it.''
Indeed, Birdland may be the most unlikely success for a comeback project in... well, 35 years.
The mangy essence of the Yardbirds' original garage-rock sound kicks and wails on the CD -- aided by a new singer (John Idan) who sounds remarkably like the act's original one, Keith Relf (who died in an electrical accident in 1976).
Birdland also benefits from its mix of seven worthy new songs and eight redos of the band's hits, from For Your Love to Shapes of Things. Fleshing out the songs is a lazy Susan of guest guitarists, including Steve Vai, Slash, Joe Satriani and Brian May.
Vai got the project off the ground. While Dreja and McCarty have toured extensively in Europe since the mid-'90s, Dreja said, ``there was no interest from major labels. We had some offers (from indies). But they were dodgy.''
When Vai heard a demo, he signed the group to his own Favored Nations label. Dreja said he hasn't had any real relationship with Clapton or Page since the band died, so they weren't approached about the project. Still, Dreja worried about guest guitarists overwhelming the tracks.
``Luckily, they didn't swamp us,'' he said.
For longtime fans, the album's greatest value is the way it refurbishes the old songs. The original recordings suffered from thin, trebly recordings. ``It's great to repaint the canvas and bring them up to date,'' Dreja said.
The result has the bite and verve of bands that recall the Yardbirds today, like the Vines and White Stripes.
Since the early band kept changing its lineup, Dreja crows that these new Yardbirds have been around longer than the most of the originals were.
January 7, 2003 — The Yardbirds, one of the most influential bands to emerge from the glorious British pop scene of the '60s, is putting the finishing touches on its first new studio recording since 1968's Little Games. The new Yardbirds album, titled Birdland, will be released on April 22, 2003 by Favored Nations Recordings (marketed and distributed by RED Distribution's Red Ink Division.)
In addition to founding members Chris Dreja (rhythm guitar and backing vocals) and Jim McCarty (drums and backing vocals), the Yardbirds now contain Gypie Mayo (lead guitar and backing vocals, formerly of Dr. Feelgood), John Idan (bass and lead vocals) and Alan Glen (harmonica and backing vocals, ex- of Nine Below Zero, Little Axe and more.) Excitingly, too, they are joined on this recording by a venerated former Yardbirds guitarist Jeff Beck (who lends his guitar prowess to "My Blind Life") as well as guitar heroes Brian May (Queen), Steve Vai, Slash, Joe Satriani, Steve Lukather and Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, plus vocals by Johnny Rzeznik (Goo Goo Dolls).
Producer was Ken Allardyce (Weezer, Fleetwood Mac, Green Day, Goo Goo Dolls), and the bulk of the album was recorded at Steve Vai's Mothership studio in Hollywood, Calif., with parts recorded at two London studios, and a track at Jeff Beck's studio in England. Producer Allardyce actually saw the Yardbirds open for the Beatles at Hammersmith Odeon in 1964 and has been a fan ever since.
The album contains newly recorded versions of eight of the Yardbirds' best known hits ("I'm Not Talking," "The Nazz Are Blue," "For Your Love," "Train Kept A Rolling," "Shapes of Things," "Over, Under, Sideways, Down," "Mr. You're A Better Man Than I" and "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago") plus seven new songs that faithfully carry on the Yardbirds' musical tradition ("Crying Out For Love," "Please Don't Tell Me 'Bout the News, "Mr. Saboteur," "My Blind Life," "The Mystery of Being," "Dream Within A Dream" and "An Original Man [A Song For Keith]")
According to founding Yardbirds member Chris Dreja, "To make our first album in so many years has been a lasting ambition of ours. We wanted to do our original songs and our new ones with modern production while preserving the essence of our sound. It was a labor of love, and we're grateful to everyone who helped -- our guest musicians and especially to Steve Vai. To me, it doesn't sound like we've been away for 35 years. The Yardbirds are still a kick-ass, high-energy band -- and that comes across on this album."
Following is a track listing including special guest appearances. Order is subject to change:
I'm Not Talking Crying Out For Love The Nazz Are Blue - (Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter, guitar) For Your Love - (John Rzeznik, vocals) Please Don't Tell Me 'Bout The News Train Kept A Rolling - (Joe Satriani, guitar) Mr. Saboteur Shapes Of Things - (Steve Vai, guitar) My Blind Life - (Jeff Beck, guitar) Over, Under, Sideways, Down - (Slash, guitar) Mr. You're A Better Man Than I - (Brian May, guitar) Mystery Of Being Dream Within A Dream Happenings Ten Years Time Ago - (Steve Lukather, guitar) An Original Man (A Song For Keith)
http://www.nyrock.com/worldbeat/01_2003/010703.asp
Playing an electric guitar in your bathtub tends to do that.
That's exactly what I started thinking as I read the article! Heck, I took my screen name from one of my favorite (although short-lived) 1960s TV programs!
From a fansite....
Rumours that Keith was electrocuted while playing his guitar in the bath were strongly denied by his family. The most likely scenario seems to be that he was rehearsing in the cellar of his house which had been converted into a studio, standing on an old gaspipe by the fireplace, when his guitar, which had not been earthed properly, developed an electrical fault and killed him.
One source I have read says his body was discovered by his son, but I have found no trace of a marriage or any children. His death, which occurred on 14 May 1976, was registered in the Hounslow area - but I have been unable to discover exactly where his death occurred.
Since his death was not registered until the September quarter, it may be that he died in the USA - or his registration may have been delayed by the Inquest.
Hmmmm, wonder what that does sound like. Maybe something like...
Bzzzzt! Snap, crackle! ZOT! AAAAAiiiiiieeeee!
Late '68.
Without even one of these three, there's no real Yardbirds reunion.
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